Having trouble getting to sleep? Try aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is the belief that the right scent can evoke a certain mood when breathed in: Peppermint can excite and lavender can soothe. But instead of spending lots of money on pricey linen sprays, make your own. Fill a mister bottle with distilled water and add about 20 drops of lavender oil (from the natural health food store). Shake and spray on your sheets. Then just lie down and relax.

4/10/10

If you have uncovered basement windows in your home, you can do two things to help small creatures like chipmunks and rabbits that get stuck in the well: One, prop up a branch or a plank of wood so they can easily climb out. Then take it a step further and buy a window well cover from the hardware store to make it safe and sound for good.

4/9/10

Making fried chicken or other crispy, crunchy delights for supper? When you're finished, do not pour the cooking oil down the drain. Liquid fats solidify quickly and create clogs. Instead, fill an old container -- a milk or juice carton -- with the oil and dispose of it in the trash.

4/8/10